Leicester Riots : Social Media instrumental to violence against the Hindu community

The last month Leicester riots were the outcome of cyber social swarming, say the top cyber experts of Rugter University.

A recent paper published by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) shows the uses quantitative methods to investigate the violence in Leicester. The NCRI is known as world’s foremost expert in identifying and forecasting cyber social threats, based in Rutgers University.

Titled as “Cyber Social Swarming Precedes Real World Riots in Leicester: How Social Media Became a Weapon for Violence”, the paper is based on AI models reports that almost seventy percent calls were made on social media’s Twitter platform against the Hindus.

Communal clashes can be better termed as communal attack in case of Leicester. Out of many. there were mainly the communal hatred which victimized Hindu community here.

Considering the communal attack as a grave disturbance to peace and harmony within the UK amid reports of a “large-scale unrest” and “serious disorder”, the Indian High Commission in London condemned the violence against the Indian community in United Kingdom’s Leicester strongly. High Commission demanded an inquiry over the entire violent-event in the city following communal clashes over the weekend on 22 September 2022, leading to the arrests of around 47 people so far.

In a statement on Twitter on Monday, the Indian High Commission said, “We strongly condemn the violence perpetrated against the Indian community in Leicester and vandalisation of premises and symbols of Hindu religion. We have strongly taken up this matter with the UK authorities and have sought immediate action against those involved in these attacks.” India also urged the UK to protect those affected.

What happened in Leicester?

In the month of September after an India and Pakistan cricket match, the disturbances in the city of Leicester kicked off, says the police. Almost a month ago during the last week of August, reportedly the fans from Hindu and Muslim communities seen clashing after India secured a win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup T20 tournament being held in Dubai.

The police immediately came into action and 8 people were arrested on “violent disorder and suspicion”, as per the reports of English media. That was not it, many similar incidents of disturbance were also reported during the coming days, but that led to more arrests.

Now what leads to fresh violence?

As the reaction over the attack on Hindu community, an “unplanned protest” was staged out in Leicester on September 17, 2022 and that is where the trouble flares up again.

As per the media reports a group of Hindu men were video-graphed marching through the Green Lane Road of the city, and that is a place where many Muslim-owned businesses are located along with a Hindu temple.

The loud chants of “Jai Shri Ram” could be heard on streets, says a Muslim community leader.  A woman was quoted as saying to the media that “They were just everywhere, it was like crowds walking away from a football match.”

Thus as the reaction the heat from the other side also grew and Muslim community came out to as they said ‘to defend the community by themselves. The same was quoted by a Hindu family belonging to a Hindu organization as saying that “They feel threatened, and attacked.” They also alleged the police were failing to protect property, people and places of worship.